Beauty Firsts

So far, 2016 has started off with a year of firsts for me. I decided to enroll in a Pilates studio and dye my hair dark red (semi-permanent of course). But most importantly, I got my first spray tan! Now, I know what your thinking – “wow, how exciting and scandalous”.

I’m a Jersey girl and in New Jersey we go tanning all year around. I’ve been doing it since I was seventeen and have the freckles all over my body to prove it. Tanning beds cleared my acne, made my nose look thinner in pictures and made me feel good. But after I saw a dermatologist last month, I decided to swear off tanning beds for good. Skin cancer and sun damage were part of the reason, but now that I use a prescription retinal cream I really need to be careful. It’s been difficult, but something I know I have to do for myself and for my health. Luckily, I can at least spray tan, which proved to be quick and easy.

I used a machine called the Versa Spa at my local tanning salon. You stand in 4 different positions while a light mist sprays your body. It took a good 20 hours for me to notice any color, but I do look tanner and I am not at all orange. You want to make sure to shave and exfoliate beforehand, too! The only thing I didn’t like was the smell afterwards. But all in all, I’m happy with this alternative and plan on doing it again for special occasions.